Lighting and ignition system for automobiles



v. F. MIKOLASEK. LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED AUG-l9, I919- 5 SHEETS-SHEET l. 1g 25 ab W1 INTENSIFIER 30 mpmiz Quota:

Patented June 27, 1922.

V. F. MIKOLASEK. LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.19., 1919.

H" II v Snoemtoz I KZWaZaxi V. F. MIKOLASEK. LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I9, I919.

' Patented June 27, 1922.

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V. F. MIKOLASEK.

LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJQ, I919- Patented June 27, 1922.

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muwtoz V filfimw V. F. MIKOLASEK.

LIGHTING AND-IGNITION SYSTEM. Fo AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION-FILED AU,G.19, I919. 1,421,285, Patented June 27, 1922.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFrlcE.

LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented June 2'7, 1922.

Application filed. August 19, 1819. Serial No. 318,466.

It). all whom it may concern Be known that VnNoEsLAUs F. MIKO- LA an, citizen of the United States of Americai; residing at Lanlrin, in the county of Yialsh and vtitate of North Dakota, has in vented new and useful Improvements in Lighting and Ignition Systems for, Automobiles, of which the tion.

The object oi the invention is to provide a combined lighting and ignition system for usein connection with automobiles and the like wherein there shall be a relatively broad the ignition circuit is supplied by the latter that minor changes in construction and ar-e rangement may be resorted to within the range of elasticity or adaptability in the mat ter 01? the interchangeable use of magneto and battery currents, the arrangement being such as to provide for the charging of the battery by the generator or magneto while from the surplus or overflow oi current produced by the generator or magneto and means suchas a transformer or commutator hereina:tterreferred to as a rectifier, being an rai iojcd in such relation to the circuits including the battery, generator and lighting and ignition circuits as to provide for interchangeably and reversely transforming the o 7 urrent from the generator to charge the batteries' or from the batteries to supply the lg nition circuit, accrn'ding to whether the lat ter is to be operated directly by the generator onindn'ectly by the batteries.

With these and related objects in view the invention consists in a construction, combo nation and relation of parts of which preferred embodiments are illustrated in the ac companying drawings, it being understood.

scope oi thev claims without departing "from the principles involved.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of one form of the system showing the related rectiiier and timing mechanisms in section.

figure 2 isv a similar view of a slightly modified system wherein a slightly dlfferent form of rectifieris included.

Figure 3 is a similar view of another modification employing a rectifier of the constructionshown in Figure l but wherein there is included a double battery as in the form "shownin Figure 2. y

Figures. l: and 5 are still other modified forms showing different arrangements of the following is a specificato the spindle 16 of the timer. 7 rangement is as indicated in Flgure 1 (the same arrangement however, being illustrated circuits embodying the same principle as that indicated in the previous figures.

Figure 6 is a furthermodification of the rectifier wherein the timer is constructed as an element thereof to adapt this feature ofthe system to be applied in lieu of the ordinary timer.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View of the rectifier on the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 6 and being of the same construction as that shown in Figure 1.

It will be noted that for the advantages of the system to be attained to the fullest extent it is desirable that the timer 10, which may be of the ordinaryor any preferred construction, the rectifier 11 and the generator or magneto 12 should be operated in timed relation or synchronism, and to this end the usualcam shaft 13 of the engine is employed as the driving element, motion being com-.-

municated therefrom by means of suitable gears such as the worm 14: and worm gear 15 When the arin Figure 2) the spindle 16 carries a brush or contact arm 17 adapted for periodic engage ment with the spaced contacts 18 carried by a cap 19 capable of a movement concentric with the spindle 16 so as to move the contacts 18 relative to the path of the brush arm 17 to either advance or retard the spark as in the ordinary practice, connection with any suitable lover or foot pedal for this purpose being effected for example by means of the attachment indicated at 20. Connected by means of binding screws 21 with the contacts lS'which for convenience may be termed the stationary contacts of the timer, are the conductors 22 leading to the spark plugs 23, through an intensifier 2 1 if desired. Also connected with a binding post 25 at the cen ter of the cap of the timer and engaged with a spring contact 26 bearing upon the hub of the brush arm 17 which for convenience may be termed the movable contact of the timer, is a conductor 27 leading to the secondary 28 of the induction coil of which the primary is shown at 29.

The above described conductors including a wire 30 leading from the primary of the induction coil to the switch 81 constitute what shall be hereinafter referred to as the ignition circuit which further includes the primary and secondary coil grounds 32 and the engine grounds 33 of which the operation is as in the ordinary practice and is well understood.

The rectifier is constructed in the general form of a commutator wherein the rotary member, as shown in Figures 1, 6 and T con sists of conductive rings 34 and having interci'u'rently arranged extensions 'lorming segments 34 and 35 arranged alternately in an annular series and separated by insulation as shown at 36. This rotary member is carried by a spindle 37 connected by suitable gearing 38 and 39 with the spindle of the timer as shown in Figure 1. or with the cam shaft 13 through such intermediate gearing as may be adapted to secure a synchronous movement of the elements, and said rotary member is arranged for convenience within a suitable housing 40. A brush contact 41 in engagement with one of the commutator rings, as for example that indicated at 35, is connected by a conductor 42 with the alternately effective switch points 43 and 44 for alternate engagement by the arm 45 of the above mentioned switch 31. In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 the other commutator ring 34 is grounded as at 46.

Also engaged respectively with the contact segments 34 and 35 of the rings 34 and 35 are the brush contacts 46 and 47 from the former of which extends a conductor 48 through a switch box or cutout 49 to a switch point 50 which is within the range of movement of an arm 51 of the abovementioned switch 31, while from the other brush contact 47 extends a conductor 52 to one pole of the battery 53. From the opposite pole of said battery extends a conductor 54 through an ammeter 55 and thence to the arm 51 of the switch 31. From another switch point 56 for engagement by the arm 51 of the switch in its alternative adjustment extends a conductor 57 which extends to the brush contact 46 or as indicated makes connection at 58 with the conductor 48 extending from said contact.

The magneto or generator 12 is grounded as at 59 and is connected by conductor 60 with switch point 61 for engagement by the arm 45 of the switch 31 and therefore when the switch is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow located adjacent thereto the generator current passes from the switch point 61 through the arm 45 and conductor to the primary coil 29 to energize the ignition circuit, and the surplus current, or that not absorbed by the ignition, passes to the switch point 43 through the conductor 42 to the commutator ring Referring particularly to Figures 6 and 7 it will be noted that the commutator brushes consist of small rollers 62 which being spring-actuated have a firm yet yielding contact with the elements of the commutator on relatively narrow lines so that the spaces or zones of insulation between the segments of the rings may be made narrow to afi'ord the maximum extent of conductive surface. The brush 41 which conveys the alternating current from the generator to the commutator is provided with a spring 63 acting upon the stem 64 of the bearing roller 62 while the contacts 46 and 47 which take oii' the direct current from the segments of the commutator rings are provided with roller-supporting arms 65 yieldingly actuated by springs 66, each of said brushes 46' and 47 having its contact rollers spaced apart a sufficient distance to contact at the same time with segments of the same polarity while the rolls of the two brushes simultaneously make contact with segments of opposite polarities, and both sets oi rolls being simultaneously in the neutral or insulated position with reference to the rotary member of the commutator. This arrangement provides for maximum efficiency, and the direct currents of different polarities taken off respectively by the brushes 46 and 47 are conveyed to the battery to charge the same. the course of the current being from the switch point 43 through the conductor 42 to the brush 41 and thence from the brush 46 through the conductor 48, and cutout 49 to switch point 50, through switch arm 51, conductor ammeter 55 conductor 54 to battery and then through conductor 52 and brush 47 and ring 34 to ground 46.

When the position of the switch 31 is reversed. as for the purpose of starting the engine on the batteries, by moving it in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow, the course of the current from the battery is through the conductor 54 and the ammeter, conductor 55 to switch arm 51, switch point 56 and conductors 57 and 48 to the brush 46 and thence from the brush 47 and conductor 52 to the other pole of the battery, while from the brush 41 the alternating current, due to the action of the commutator traverses the conductor 42 to switch point 44 and thence through switch arm 45 and conductor 30 to the primary induction coil to energize the ignition circuit.

The above described reversible circuit ineluding the battery and consisting essentially of the connections between the A. C. brush 41 and the switch points 43 and 44, the connections between one of the D. C. brushes (46 and 4'?) and one pole of the battery and between the other D. C. brush and the other pole of the battery. and in which is arranged the switch by which the directions of the currents with reference to the commutator are reversed, may be and hereinafter is termed the battery circuit.

In addition to the foregoing there is illustrated what is ordinarily termed a lighting circuit 67 which includes the battery and consists of a conductor 68 connected for convenience with the conductor 54 leading to one pole of the battery, and a conductor 69 leading from the other pole of the battery through the conductor 52 to which it is connected, and in this lighting circuit'there may be arranged the headlights 70, searchlight 71, tail-light 72, bell 73, horn 74 or any equivalents thereof controlled by the switches 7 5 which are ordinarily arranged within easy reach of the operator of the car.

In the modified form of the invention which is illustrated in Figure 2 the lead 76 from the generator 77 is connected with the switch point 78 so that when the arm 79 of the switch 31 is in contact therewith the current will pass through the latter to the bridge 80, and while part of it will flow through the conductor 81 to the primary 82 of the induction coil, the balance will pass from the bridge through the arm- 83 of the switch to the point 84 and thence through conductor 85 to an intermediate pole of the double battery 86 of-which the other poles are connected by conductors 87 and 88 respectively to the brush contacts 89 and 90 for alternate contact with the segments 91 0f the commutator disk 92. In this instance only a single disk is employed, with insulating elements 93 interposed between the segments for engagement by one contact when the other is in engagement with a conductive segment, as indicated in the. drawing, the disk being revolubly mounted as in the form illustrated in Figure 1 by means of a spindle or shaft 94, and being grounded as indicated at 95. I

When the position of the switch 31* is reversed or moved in the opposite direction to the arrow the battery is thrown into the circuit with theprimary of the induction coil, the course of the current being from the remote poles of the battery alternately through the conductors 87 and 88 and brushes 89 and 90 and the segments 91 to ground and thence through primary of the induction coil, conductor 81, bridge wire 80, switch arm 83,'switch point 95 and conductor 85 to the intermediate pole of the battery, the magneto or generator being cut out and commutator acting as a transformer to change the direct current of the battery into an alternating current in the induction coil.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 there is employed a double battery 96 similar to that indicated in Figure 2 with a corresponding connection of the generator 97 therewith through a lead 98, switch point 99, switch arm 100, bridge wire 101, and conductor 102 to the primary 103 of the induction coil. In this form of the invention the ignition circuit 104 is similar to that previously described as also is the li hting circuit indicated at 105. The rectifier used in this connection partakes of the characteristics of both that shown in Figure :1 and detailed in-Figuresfi and 7, and that grounded as shown respectively at 111 and 112. From the bridge 101 through which the magneto current passes to the induction coil 103, the surplus passes through switch arm 113 to point 114and thence through conductor 115 to the intermediate pole of the battery or the inner poles of the double battery as will be the effect of such an arrangement. From the outer poles or terminals of the battery members extend the conductors 116 and 117 respectively to contacts 109 and 110. I

It will be obvious that by reversing the switch or moving it in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow, thegenerator or magneto will be cut out as heretofore explained with reference to the other forms of the invention and the current will then pass from the intermediate pole of the battery through the conductor 115 and switch point 118, switch arm 113, bridge 101, conductor 102, and primary coil 103 to ground 119 and from ground to com mutator rings 106 and 107 and segments 106 and 107 alternately through contacts 109 and 110 and conductors 116' and 117 to the remote terminals ofthe battery.

In the forms illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 still other-modifications serving to secure the same results are illustrated as, for example, in Figure 4, the lead 120 of the generator 121 passes to the intermediate point of the battery structure 122 while from the extremities thereof extend conductors 123 and 124 to the brushes 125 and 126 which com tact with rings 127 and 128 having intercurrent conductive segments 127 and 128 separated by insulation 129, and for contact with segments alternately is arranged the brush 130 which is grounded as shown at 131. In the form of Figure 5 where a single battery element 132 is shown the lead 133 from the generator 134 extends to a brush 135 in contact with the ring 136 of the commutator while the other ring 137 is grounded as shown at 138. These rings are provided as in the previous form with intercurrent conductive segments 136? and 137 with which cooperate in simultaneous engagement the contacts 139 and 140 which are connected by conductors 141 and 142 respectively with the opposite poles of the battery.

The modification illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 refer solely to the commutator or rectifier in its relation to the timer and its mounting upon the frame of the machiner in that there is employed a plate 143 adapted to be substituted tor the timer ordinarily employed and is provided with attaching arms 1&4: to serve as means of attachment, and this plate is provided with a sleeve 1-15 to form a mounting for the spindle 121-6 geared as shown at M? and 148 to the cam shatt 1&9. Keyed to the shaft is a sleeve or collar 151, and keyed upon the exterior surface of the latter is an insulating ring 152 which forms a part of the insulator serving to separate the conductive segments of the commutator rings. In this form of the device the brush arm 158 carrying the movable contact of the timer is attached to the spindle 1-16, and the rotary spark adjusting cap 15 11 by which the spark is advanced or retarded and which carries the contacts is held in place by the engagement of curved spring fingers 156 with a rim or flange 157.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. An ignition system having an alternating current generator, an ignition circuit, a battery, a transformer having one set of terminals included in the ignition circuit, a battery circuit including the other set of terminals of the transformer, and means for selectively includin the generator in the ignition circuit.

2. An ignition system having an alternating current generator, an ignition circuit controlled by an induction coil. a battery. a transformer having one set of terminals included in the ignition circuit, a battery circuit including the other set of transformer terminals and the battery, and means for including the generator with the primary of the induction coil in the ignition circuit and with the transformer.

3. The combination with a rotary member which the rotary element having one set of terminals is operatively connected to said member for synchronous movement therewith, an ignition circuit including the one set of connnntator terminals, :1 battery having a circuit including the other set ot commutator terminals, an alternating current genera tor, and a switch for connecting the generator directly with the primary induction coil element of the ignition circuit and with the first-named set of terminals of the commu tator.

at. The combination with a timed rotary member of an explosion engine, of an ignition system having a comn'iutator of which the rotary element is geared to said member for synchronous movement therewith, a battery having a circuit including one set of terminals of the commutator, an ignition circuit including the other set of terminals, and a generator for selective connection with said second-named set of terminals of the commutator and with the ignition circuit.

An ignition system having a connnu tator, a battery having its circuit arranged to include one set of terminals oi the coinmutator, an alternating current generator connected to and an ignition circuit including the other set of terminals of the co1nmutaton said ignition circuit being included in the battery circuit through the commutator when the generator is disconnected irom said commutator.

6. An ignition system having a commutator, a battery having its circuit arranged to include one set otterminals ot the commutator, an ignition circuit having an induction coil of which the primary is included with the other set of terminals ot the commutator, an alternating current generator, and a switch tor cutting the generator into and out ot the ignition circuit and maintaining in both positions a closed condition of said ignition and battery circuits through the respective sets of terminals of the commutator.

In testimony whereof he aiiixes his signature.

VENCESLAUS F. MIKOLASEK, 

